Chad is known for endless Sahelian expanses. Cotton is crucially important to the national economy, both in terms of income generation for farmers and for export revenue. Cotton accounts for two thirds of total exports from Chad and more than 2 million people (almost 40% of the country's total population) are occupied in the sector. Most cotton farms are still family-owned and operated (with average household size of 5 to 6 people). The average farm size is 1-2 hectares. Cotton is grown in the southern most part of Chad adjacent to the cotton growing regions of Cameroon. Cotton in Chad is cultivated under rain-fed conditions. Mainly only 2 varieties (A 51, STAM F) of cotton are grown here. The cotton area increased from 270,000 in 1960 to 340,000 in 1978 and thereafter declined to reach 200,000 ha in 1995. The area under cotton cultivation fluctuated during 1995-2005 and has stabilised at about 200,000 hectares. The productivity levels were low at 100 to 200 until 1981, but increased to a range of 250-300 kg/ha lint during 1982-2009. Cotton production in Chad has always been in the range of 40,000 to 70,000 metric tonnes, with exceptions of 80,000 to 100,000 tonnes in 1996, 1997 and 2004. About 98% of the cotton produced in Chad is exported, mainly to France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain.